RUBIO PARTNERS WITH PALAZZO ON RIGHT TO REFUSE AMENDMENT

Conservative Senator Introduces Companion “Right to Refuse” Legislation to Rein In IRS Power Over Obamacare Mandate

Washington, D.C. –Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4) today applauded the introduction of the Senate companion to H.J. Res. 28, the "Right to Refuse” amendment by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL). The provision, which Palazzo introduced in the House of Representatives in February, would effectively reverse the ObamaCare individual mandate tax and prevent future attempts to tax individuals and businesses for failing to purchase goods and services.

In a statement, Palazzo welcomed Rubio in promoting Right to Refuse: “Senator Rubio has been a consistent defender of individual liberty, and I’m proud to have his support in championing this cause. Just as the IRS has no business punishing organizations based on political beliefs, the government has no business telling individuals how they should spend their money. How can Americans feel confident about Obamacare going forward if they can’t even trust the agency tasked with enforcing this massive law? That is why Right to Refuse is so important. This measure would take the power out of the hands of the IRS and place it back in the hands of the American people.”

“ObamaCare is a disastrous policy that is not only destructive to job creation, it will also unleash the corrupt and scandal-ridden IRS on taxpayers simply for not buying health insurance,” said Rubio. “We should put our faith in the American people to decide what goods and services they want to buy, not have Congress dictate it and have the IRS empowered to harass Americans to make sure they do it. Let’s do everything we can to keep the IRS out of our health care and stop future congresses from forcing private citizens to spend their hard-earned money on products or services Washington is forcing on them.”

Last year the Supreme Court rejected the Obama Administration’s claim that ObamaCare’s individual mandate fell within Congress’s constitutional power to regulate commerce. A slim majority of the court, however, concluded that the mandate was, in fact, a tax and upheld its constitutionality. The unprecedented and controversial ruling potentially opens the door to future legislation that could force citizens to purchase goods or services at the risk of being hit with a penalty tax. If passed by Congress and ratified by the states, the “Right to Refuse” amendment would reassert constitutionally limited government and exempt the more than 6 million individuals and businesses expected to be hit with thousands of dollars in mandated taxes set to begin in 2014. It would also permanently prevent Congress from passing future legislation forcing Americans to choose between purchase of goods and services or tax penalties.

The Right To Refuse constitutional amendment is supported by several conservative organizations, including Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ), R Street Institute, American Commitment, the Center for Individual Freedom (CFIF) and the National Taxpayers Union (NTU).Click here for video of Congressman Palazzo speaking on the House floor in support of H.J. Res 28, the “Right to Refuse” Amendment.